New chemistry curriculum adds breadth, depth to studies

University Photography

Chemistry students work under the instruction of Hector Abrua and Frank DiSalvo.

From such courses as Pesticides, Insecticides and the Environment to Philosophy of Science, Cornells newest chemistry majors have a wide range of electives they can now choose from to fill out the 60-credit major.

After talking with students and noticing changes in the diversity of careers that chemistry alumni pursue, chemistry faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences decided to change the curriculum to offer more options for their students, two-thirds of whom pursue careers that dont require a graduate degree in chemistry.

This is a reflection of a changing world and the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of our work, said Professor Dave Collum, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. We took a brush hog to the major, cutting out some chemistry underbrush and replanting it with some fresh growth from throughout the university.

During the process, a group of faculty, including associate chair Brian Crane and director of undergraduate studies Roger Loring, pored through course offerings from other departments to develop the list of approved electives that appears on the chemistry website.

We wanted to offer more flexibility in the chemistry major, which hasnt been traditionally very flexible, said Thomas Ruttledge, senior lecturer and director of undergraduate advising. Now that the changes are in place, our older students are asking Why didnt you do this earlier?

In fact, the department has been offering an alternative major for years, Ruttledge and Collum said, but some students were concerned that the alternative major could be perceived as less rigorous than the standard major. However, for students with broad interests, such as those attempting a double major, the rigidity of the standard major created problems. This new curriculum provides flexibility within a single major, accommodating those who choose more elective classes and those who pursue solely traditional chemistry classes, they said.

Robert Barker/University Photography

Barbara Baird, professor of chemistry and senior associate dean, left, works in the laboratory with students.

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New chemistry curriculum adds breadth, depth to studies